Sant' Elena

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Situated at the end of a long avenue of plane trees, in a remote part of the city, the church of Sant' Elena enjoys an almost rural location. The church was founded in the 11th century when it was served by Augustinian canons. In the 13th century the remains of its titular saint were brought here and a century later the church passed to the Benedictines, who rebuilt it in the 1430s. 

Its fine portal, possibly the work of Antonio Rizzo or Nicolo Fiorentino, is one of the earliest examples of Renaissance architecture in Venice. The kneeling figure in the lunette is the sea-captain, Vittore Cappello. 

Sant' Elena has a tall aisle-less nave and an apse. A large patronal chapel, of similar appearance, stands to the right of the nave. 

The church was deconsecrated in 1807 and its campanile destroyed. By the 1920s it was in a parlous condition, but between 1927 and 1930 it was restored and reopened. Its campanile was rebuilt in the 1950s, making it the youngest in Venice.  ​

Sant' Elena

Vittore Cappello kneeling before Saint Helena